21/07/2026
This unique photograph of the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway Company (SLNCR) Lough Class locomotive Lough Melvin, was taken by H C A Beaumont. Thanks to Jonathan Beaumont for the permission to use his Father's photo.
Lough Melvin and her sister Lough Erne have the distinction of being the last two steam locomotives to enter service anywhere in Ireland.
The photo, taken at the yard beside Enniskillen's Great Northern engine shed, was very likely taken on the day the majority of the railways lines in the north west were closed on 30th September 1957.
On the handrail on the right of the smokebox door you can just see what looks to be a bunch of flowers. On the last day many locomotives were adorned, Lough Melvin was too, with anemones โ the flowers associated with memory and remembrance. Lough Melvin on the last day had the sad task of pulling the last train from Enniskillen to Sligo.
After being stored in Enniskillen's Great Northern engine shed, see picture two, for two years after closure, both locomotives had different fates after being sold to the Ulster Transport Authority in 1959:
Lough Melvin resumed service with the UTA in 1959 before being withdrawn in 1967 and sold for scrap in 1968.
Lough Erne resumed service with the UTA in 1959 before being withdrawn in 1969 and was last steamed on 8th July 1972. In 1972 Lough Erne was bought from Northern Ireland Railways by The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) and was preserved. Lough Erne to this day resides at the RPSI museum in Whitehead, County Antrim. We encourage you to visit.
A name plate, as can be seen in the third photo, from each locomotive is proudly on display at Headhunters Railway Museum.
For more information on Lough Erne and Lough Melvin please follow the link:
www.steamtrainsireland.com/rpsi-collection/11/no27-lough-erne
Collooney Greenways Support Group
